--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We incline to think that God cannot…" description: "\"We incline to think that God cannot explain His own secrets and that He would like a little information upon certain points Himself. We mortals astoni..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/de1/herman-melville-162_atheism_we-incline-to-think-that-god-cannot-expl_2827890.jpg" --- # We incline to think that God cannot explain His own… ![“We incline to think that God cannot explain His own secrets and that He would like a little information upon certain points Himself. We mortals astonish Him as much as He us. But it is this Being of the matter; there lies the knot with which we choke ourselves. As soon as you say Me, a God, a…” quote by Herman Melville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/de1/herman-melville-162_atheism_we-incline-to-think-that-god-cannot-expl_2827890.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/de1/herman-melville-162_atheism_we-incline-to-think-that-god-cannot-expl_2827890.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/de1/herman-melville-162_atheism_we-incline-to-think-that-god-cannot-expl_2827890.jpg) > “We incline to think that God cannot explain His own secrets and that He would like a little information upon certain points Himself. We mortals astonish Him as much as He us. But it is this Being of the matter; there lies the knot with which we choke ourselves. As soon as you say Me, a God, a Nature, so soon you jump off from your stool and hang from the beam. Yes, that word is the hangman. Take God out of the dictionary, and you would have Him in the street.” [Herman Melville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-melville/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Human attempts to define God limit divine mystery, creating self‑imposed constraints. **In simple terms:** Trying to label God traps us in our own ideas. Key Takeaway Embrace mystery over certainty. Themes theology philosophy human limitation language Mood contemplative thoughtful Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - religious study - personal reflection - creative writing - debate Key Concepts existentialism epistemology spirituality Questions to Reflect On - What does “God” mean to you? - How does language shape belief? A Different Perspective Mystery can cause anxiety for some. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Atheism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/atheism/) [Dictionary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dictionary/) [Lying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lying/) [Mortals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mortals/) [Nature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nature/) [Secret](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/secret/) [Streets](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/streets/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) ## Related quotes > [“A God that can be understood is no God. Who can explain the Infinite in words?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-somerset-maugham/a-god-that-can-be-understood-is-no-god-who-can-explain-the-infinite/) [W. Somerset Maugham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-somerset-maugham/) > [“My greatest fear is having to face God and explain to Him why I wasn't able to fulfill my purpose.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yvonne-pierre/my-greatest-fear-is-having-to-face-god-and-explain-to-him-why-i-wasn/) [Yvonne Pierre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yvonne-pierre/) > [God may not explain Himself, but He will reveal Himself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/myles-munroe/god-may-not-explain-himself-but-he-will-reveal-himself/) [Myles Munroe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/myles-munroe/) > [“Besides, now I was thinking there just might be a God after all—that would explain who was currently fucking with my whole notion of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-cline/besides-now-i-was-thinking-there-just-might-be-a-god-after-all-that/) [Ernest Cline](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-cline/) > [For God to explain a trial would be to destroy its purpose, calling forth simple faith and implicit obedience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-edersheim/for-god-to-explain-a-trial-would-be-to-destroy-its-purpose-calling/) [Alfred Edersheim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-edersheim/) > [“If there is no God, how do we explain that a machine requires a maker, but the universe does not.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-winter/if-there-is-no-god-how-do-we-explain-that-a-machine-requires-a-maker/) Mark Winter > [Almost every time I am in a lectureship on a college campus, young people will say, If there is a God and if he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-clayton/almost-every-time-i-am-in-a-lectureship-on-a-college-campus-young/) [John Clayton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-clayton/) > [“At this point, godless materialists might be cheering. If humans evolved strictly by mutation and natural selection, who needs God to explain us? To…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-s-collins/at-this-point-godless-materialists-might-be-cheering-if-humans/) [Francis s. Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-s-collins/) > [Most people, I believe, think that you need a God to explain the existence of the world, and especially the existence of life. They…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-dawkins/most-people-i-believe-think-that-you-need-a-god-to-explain-the/) [Richard Dawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-dawkins/) > [ He has more of a right to ask us why so many people are starving \[than we do to ask Him\]. As much as… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-chan/he-has-more-of-a-right-to-ask-us-why-so-many-people-are-starving-than/) [Francis Chan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-chan/) > [I want to believe in a personal god who looks after me and my loved ones and knows every sparrow that falls. But the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melina-mercouri/i-want-to-believe-in-a-personal-god-who-looks-after-me-and-my-loved/) [Melina Mercouri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melina-mercouri/) > [It's alright, It's ok... I think God can explain, I'm relieve I'm the same, I'll get over it yet. ;')](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/na/it-s-alright-it-s-ok-i-think-god-can-explain-i-m-relieve-i-m-the-same/) NA > [To call the world God is not to explain it; it is only to enrich our language with a superfluous synonym.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-schopenhauer/to-call-the-world-god-is-not-to-explain-it-it-is-only-to-enrich-our/) [Arthur Schopenhauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-schopenhauer/) > [“As science advances, there seems to be less and less for God to do. It's a big universe, of course, so He, She, or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-sagan/as-science-advances-there-seems-to-be-less-and-less-for-god-to-do-it/) [Carl Sagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-sagan/) > [“Father, Son, and Holy Spirit remind us that there is always more of God than we know, always more of God than we can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-r-steagald/father-son-and-holy-spirit-remind-us-that-there-is-always-more-of-god/) Thomas R. Steagald ## More by Herman Melville > [“and man, though idiotic, and knowing not what he does, yet full of the sweet things of love and gratitude.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-melville/and-man-though-idiotic-and-knowing-not-what-he-does-yet-full-of-the/) [Herman Melville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-melville/) > [“But were the coming narrative to reveal in any instance, the complete abasement of poor Starbuck's fortitude, scarce might I have the heart to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-melville/but-were-the-coming-narrative-to-reveal-in-any-instance-the-complete/) [Herman Melville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-melville/) > [“(On Ralph Waldo Emerson)I love all men who dive. Any fish can swim near the surface, but it takes a great whale to go…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-melville/on-ralph-waldo-emerson-i-love-all-men-who-dive-any-fish-can-swim-near/) [Herman Melville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-melville/) > [“So seemed it to me, as I stood at her helm, and for long hours silently guided the way of this fire-ship on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-melville/so-seemed-it-to-me-as-i-stood-at-her-helm-and-for-long-hours-silently/) [Herman Melville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-melville/) > [“the only real owner of anything is its commander;”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-melville/the-only-real-owner-of-anything-is-its-commander/) [Herman Melville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-melville/) > [“Consider the subtleness of the sea; how its most dreaded creatures glide under water, unapparent for the most part, and treacherously hidden beneath the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-melville/consider-the-subtleness-of-the-sea-how-its-most-dreaded-creatures/) [Herman Melville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-melville/) > [“Is it that by its indefiniteness it shadows forth the heartless voids and immensities of the universe, and thus stabs us from behind with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-melville/is-it-that-by-its-indefiniteness-it-shadows-forth-the-heartless-voids/) [Herman Melville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-melville/) > [“Now, as I before hinted, I have no objection to any person's religion, be it what it may, so long as that person does…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-melville/now-as-i-before-hinted-i-have-no-objection-to-any-person-s-religion/) [Herman Melville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-melville/) > [Let America first praise mediocrity even, in her children, before she praises... the best excellence in the children of any other land.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-melville/let-america-first-praise-mediocrity-even-in-her-children-before-she/) [Herman Melville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-melville/) > [Only the man who says no is free](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-melville/only-the-man-who-says-no-is-free/) [Herman Melville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-melville/) > [Beneath those stars is a universe of gliding monsters.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-melville/beneath-those-stars-is-a-universe-of-gliding-monsters/) [Herman Melville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-melville/) > [“Yet this is life. For hardly have we mortals by long toilings extracted from this world's vast bulk its small but valuable sperm; and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-melville/yet-this-is-life-for-hardly-have-we-mortals-by-long-toilings/) [Herman Melville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-melville/) > [I never fancied broiling fowls; - though once broiled, judiciously buttered, and judgmatically salted and peppered, there is no one who will speak more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-melville/i-never-fancied-broiling-fowls-though-once-broiled-judiciously/) [Herman Melville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-melville/) > [War should be carried on like a monsoon; one changeless determination of every particle towards the one unalterable aim.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-melville/war-should-be-carried-on-like-a-monsoon-one-changeless-determination/) [Herman Melville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-melville/) > [Genius is full of trash.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-melville/genius-is-full-of-trash/) [Herman Melville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-melville/) [Explore all 1,009 Herman Melville quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-melville/) ## More Atheism quotes > [From Augustine down, theologians have tried to compel people to accept their special interpretation of the Scripture, and the tortures of the inquisition, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matilda-joslyn-gage/from-augustine-down-theologians-have-tried-to-compel-people-to-accept/) [Matilda Joslyn Gage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matilda-joslyn-gage/) > [“What I have a problem with is not so much religion or god, but faith. When you say you believe something in your heart…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penn-jillette/what-i-have-a-problem-with-is-not-so-much-religion-or-god-but-faith/) [Penn Jillette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penn-jillette/) > [Philosopher is a dictator who modifies accepted standards with his thoughts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilkin-santak/philosopher-is-a-dictator-who-modifies-accepted-standards-with-his/) [Ilkin Santak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilkin-santak/) > [No philosophy, no religion, has ever brought so glad a message to the world as this good news of Atheism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-besant/no-philosophy-no-religion-has-ever-brought-so-glad-a-message-to-the/) [Annie Besant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-besant/) > [Let me tell you that atheism has never painted a masterpiece. Atheism has never dispelled fear. Atheism has never healed a disease; faith in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hagee/let-me-tell-you-that-atheism-has-never-painted-a-masterpiece-atheism/) [John Hagee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hagee/) > [Believing with you that religion is a matter which lies solely between man and his God, that he owes account to none other for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/believing-with-you-that-religion-is-a-matter-which-lies-solely/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [The inner defenses are unconscious. They consist of a kind of magic aura which the mind builds around cherished belief. Arguments which penetrate into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-koestler/the-inner-defenses-are-unconscious-they-consist-of-a-kind-of-magic/) [Arthur Koestler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-koestler/) > [God speaks through me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/god-speaks-through-me/) [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) > [A knowledge of the existence of something we cannot penetrate, of the manifestations of the profoundest reason and the most radiant beauty - it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/a-knowledge-of-the-existence-of-something-we-cannot-penetrate-of-the/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [You cannot ... transmute some incoherent mixture of words into sense merely by introducing the three-letter word "God" to be its grammatical subject.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antony-flew/you-cannot-transmute-some-incoherent-mixture-of-words-into-sense/) [Antony Flew](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antony-flew/) > [Many humanists have argued that happiness involves a combination of hedonism and creative moral development; that an exuberant life fuses excellence and enjoyment, meaning…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-kurtz/many-humanists-have-argued-that-happiness-involves-a-combination-of/) [Paul Kurtz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-kurtz/) > [If, with all the time at my disposal, with all the wealth of the resources of this vast universe, to do with as I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-green-ingersoll/if-with-all-the-time-at-my-disposal-with-all-the-wealth-of-the/) [Robert Green Ingersoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-green-ingersoll/) > [Do you think that was kind? 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Clarke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-c-clarke/) > [Honest investigation is utterly impossible within the pale of any church, for the reason, that if you think the church is right you will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-green-ingersoll/honest-investigation-is-utterly-impossible-within-the-pale-of-any/) [Robert Green Ingersoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-green-ingersoll/) [Browse all 4,769 Atheism quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/atheism/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "We incline to think that God cannot explain His own secrets and that He would like a little information upon certain points Himself. We mortals astonish Him as much as He us. But it is this Being of the matter; there lies the knot with which we choke ourselves. As soon as you say Me, a God, a Nature, so soon you jump off from your stool and hang from the beam. Yes, that word is the hangman. 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